Magnet
Snap and organize windows on macOS using keyboard shortcuts or drag-to-edge
Magnet is a paid window management app for macOS, available on the Mac App Store, and developed by CrowdCafe. It lets users snap windows into tiled positions by dragging them to screen edges and corners, or by using customizable keyboard shortcuts. One of the most downloaded paid utilities on the Mac App Store, Magnet is widely recommended as the go-to window manager for users who want a polished, App Store-native experience.
Key Features
Window Snapping to fullscreen, halves, thirds, quarters, and two-thirds layouts.
Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts for every snap position.
Drag-to-Snap via trigger areas at screen edges and corners.
Multi-Monitor Support for up to six external displays.
Menu Bar Access for quick snapping from a systemwide dropdown.
macOS 15 Sequoia Support — rewritten in Swift for full compatibility.
Why Choose Magnet?
Magnet is built for Mac users who want a reliable, App Store-supported window manager that just works. At a one-time price of $4.99, it requires no configuration, runs silently in the background, and covers all common tiling layouts out of the box. It's especially popular among users who prefer the peace of mind that comes with an actively maintained, sandboxed Mac App Store app.
Platform & Compatibility
Architecture
Minimum macOS
macOS Big Sur 11Public Opinion
Curated highlights from Reddit and other communities, not user-submitted reviews.
“A Hacker News user listed Magnet among their must-have Mac installs, calling it the simplest and best window manager.”
Hacker News: Must-have Mac apps thread
“An App Store reviewer who manages specialty multi-monitor setups said Magnet made them a power user in under five minutes, while other tools required hours of setup — calling it the way window management should work.”
App Store: Magnet Reviews
“A Reddit user noted that window management tools like Magnet are way more than just resizing and positioning — they also handle app and window organization that makes Mac workflows significantly more efficient.”
Reddit: It's true (window management discussion)
“A MacSources reviewer said even a tiny 0.5MB footprint was enough to significantly boost their daily productivity, praising how Magnet makes copying content between apps and comparing files side by side effortless.”
MacSources: Magnet Window Manager Review
“A McCann Tech writer said Magnet fixes the one thing about Windows they wish Apple would copy — native window snapping — noting that macOS's built-in tiling options are clunky, unintuitive, and break fundamental windowing concepts by comparison.”
McCann Tech: Magnet Is An Essential macOS App
“A Reddit user reported leaving Magnet after struggling to get it to work on macOS Monterey, saying the application seemed simply broken even after reinstallation and workarounds, and they switched to a free alternative that worked precisely like Magnet.”
“A SaaSHub analysis noted that Magnet offers no free version, which is a significant drawback when free alternatives like Rectangle provide comparable core functionality at no cost.”
SaaSHub: Magnet Window Manager disadvantages
“A user recommended uninstalling Magnet entirely in favor of Raycast, claiming Raycast handles window management much better and replaces the need for a dedicated app like Magnet.”
X: @rhmndnt on replacing Magnet
“Reviewers and community members consistently note that Magnet lacks advanced features for power users — such as custom layout saving, gap settings, or scripting — that more comprehensive tools in the space provide.”
“A user pointed out that Magnet becomes less necessary as macOS improves native snapping (Sequoia+), with many questioning whether to keep paying for it.”
Community
